The Ties That Bind

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Eirlys stood in the corridor just beyond the doors to the Throne Room. She hadn't seen who the Guard brought in before her father, but she heard the deep voice that teased her ears. It was the sound of rich black velvet, low and deep and soothing, and so she drew in a deep breath and stepped closer to peer through the opening between the doors.

A dwarf stood before her father, one with a long tangle of black, curly hair, his back and shoulders broad beneath a heavy leather and fur traveling coat. Where most men shrank before Thranduíl, this dwarf did no such thing. Instead, his voice rose as he growled, "Ish kakfê ai-'d-dûr-rugnal!"

She had no idea what the words meant, but he sounded furious and Thranduíl's eyes narrowed at what had to be a grave insult. A moment later, two of his guards each grabbed the dwarf by his thick arms and dragged him away from the high throne of woven branches.

Ducking around the corner, she waited for them to bring him out of the Throne Room and when they did, she forgot about not wanting to be caught. Instead, she straightened up and could only stare, for the dwarf was handsome beyond words, with his thick black beard and piercing pale eyes. She had no idea who he was, or why he'd been lurking in Mirkwood, but she stood, riveted to her spot as he was marched by, could only stare until they disappeared down into the dungeons.

Eirlys smiled at the memory of the first time she'd ever laid eyes upon King Thorin II, who wasn't exactly king yet, but certainly stood up to her father as if he already wore the crown. She'd had no inkling at that moment, what lay ahead of her, of how her life would change and change for the better.

Madris' footfalls sounded just beyond the iron bars. She knew it was Madris, because her boots squeaked softly with each step, so Eirlys closed her eyes as she lay on the cold stone floor. It wasn't at all comfortable, and after a while, her bones seemed to ache from lying there, but she didn't want to listen to Madris, to hear her taunts, as to listen to her now, one would be hard pressed to believe she had ever been treated as anything other than a slave by the Greenleaf family. To hear her now, one would be forgiven for thinking that this poor woman spent her entire life being starved and beaten and treated as less than the lowest farm animal, when in fact, she'd been considered very much a member of the family. She could only imagine what her father's reaction would be, when he learned of Madris' deception. Fury wouldn't even come close.

"I know you aren't asleep."

Eirlys ignored Madris, concentrating on the memories that replayed so vividly in her mind. It was the only way to block out Madris' taunting tone and mocking words. Instead, she focused on the moment her life truly changed—the first time she kissed Thorin.

She laid her hand in his, allowing him to draw her up. They were nearly eye to eye, and as she stood, she caught a hint of leather and snow. His fingers tightened about hers and as she met his gaze, she leaned in and without thinking, brushed his lips with hers.

Eirlys had no idea what possessed her to do such a thing and jerked back in horror. "I beg your pardon, Thorin," she blurted, staring at him. "I didn't mean—that is, I don't know why I did that."

A hint of color rose along his cheekbones, but he smiled and subtly shook his head. "Please, there is no need to apologize."

Their first kiss. Awkward. Unexpected.

And only a hint at the wonderful things that were yet to come.

"Eirlys..."

She ignored Madris even harder. It wasn't so difficult to do as she focused on her and Thorin's wedding night.

His smile widened, his eyes dancing with something that looked very much like merriment as he said, "I wish you wouldn't worry so much about covering yourself. You've no need to, you know."